Gregory Rodrigues comeback victory over Chidi Njokuani came at a cost, but according to “Robocop,” it was totally worth it.
On Saturday, UFC Vegas 60, Rodrigues pulled off a remarkable comeback win. He fought back from a severe cut at the bridge of the nose to defeat Njokuani by ground-and-pound. The cut was so bad that Aljamain Sterling described it as looking like Rodrigues’ face was “falling off,” and Rodrigues agrees that it was a bad cut.
“I [have] three eyebrows,” Rodrigues joked at his post-fight press conference.
“The cut was bad, but the win came and that’s worth it. I’m so happy. It was what I had hoped for. Now we are in the UFC. That’s the World Cup. It’s the World Cup, where I am one of the best fighters. So I’m just happy and grateful for everything that’s happened now in my life.
“My wife is just a little mad, ‘Tell the doctor to do a great job. I will come back there,'” Rodrigues added with a laugh. He did an excellent job so I’ll look fine .”
Rodrigues’ most recent performance has cemented his reputation as one the most entertaining fighters around the globe.
The 30-year-old Brazilian has one four of five fights inside the UFC, with the lone loss being a controversial split decision against Armen Petrosyan this past February. That nearly wasn’t the case against Njokuani though, as the cut that came close to stopping the fight was caused by an early knee that put Rodrigues in a world of trouble. Rodrigues claims that the injury to his knee was very painful, but that he managed to overcome it with the support of his corner and thereby won the fight.
” I was dizzy and it was difficult,” Rodrigues stated. “I fell, I was a little like, ‘Man, what happened?’ Then the blood started to come down and I was kind of blind, trying to figure out what I’m going to do. As I mentioned, I wanted to thank my trainers. Their efforts were amazing. I was able to communicate with them by saying, “Move your legs!” and other such things. Then I tried and then I [went] back, then I thought, ‘I need to start something, I need to start to throw my bombs, throw my hands to stop him a little bit,’ because after that cut, everybody is going to be confident, try to finish the fight. To show him that I was still there, I began to throw my arms to prove it.
” When I completed the first round, and returned to my corner afterward, I was concerned about the cut,” Rodrigues said. “My corner was like, ‘Let’s move, let’s start touching him. He already felt your hands.’ Then when it started the second round, he started to do the same, tried to pressure me, but I said, ‘I need to pressure him more.’ And one part of the fight, I felt he was tired. I felt his breath and it was different, and I said, ‘Oh man, I’m here. I’m the Robocop and I’m going to kill you,’ and I started to feel him. So when I grabbed him against the cage for the clinch, I felt his body was a little weak, so I took him down and said, ‘I’m going to finish the fight.’ And I did.
“It was a big war. I love that fight. I need to watch that again, and it’s going to teach me a lot of stuff.”
For his efforts, Rodrigues walked away with an extra $50,000, earning Fight of the Night honors along with Njokuani. It’s something Rodriguse is becoming increasingly familiar with. He promises fans that they can expect him to perform like this every time he fights. This marks his third UFC post-fight bonus.
” I can only say that I am always there 100 %, and give everything to you,” Rodrigues stated. I leave nothing behind. Expect the best. That’s [what makes me] what makes me different. I’m not afraid [nor am I] of losing. Of course I want to win, but more than that I want to do my best. If I do my best, the payoff is going to come.”
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